Typewriting-machine key and type-bar action



Oct. 19 1926 J. ALEXANDER TYPEWRITING-MAGHINE ma AND TYPE BAR ACTION 1923 2 s eets-sheet 1- Filed Dec. 2

llillll BY R w ATTORNEY J. ALEXANDER TYPEWRITING MACHINE KEY AND TYPE BAR ACTION Filed Dec. 26, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 it WW, g a

llllls lllllllll INVENTOR JE55E 144 EMA/om BY bu ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

U 1T E Q S T JESSE ALEXANDER, 01? L03 A31 GELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO SAM I'IGUSTGN HEARNE, 01' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TYPEXVRITING-MACHINE KEY AND TYPE-BAR ACTION.

Application filed December My present invention relates to machines of the front stroke visible writing charac ter, and the general objects of the invention. are to provide an improved and simplified form of mechanism having a quick, positive motion, and a light, responsive touch.

Another object is to give the type bars a quick, easy starting impulse and to follow up this starting impulse with a powerful im pulse carrying the type bars forward to the full writing position.

In the accomplishment of the foregoing and other objects, I operate the type bars through the medium of elbow levers pivoted to the type bars and having forwardly eX tending arms making starting engagement with the type bars, these elbow levers being connected with the intermediate levers which are operated by a cam connection from the key levers.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the invention embodied in a practical and preferred form, but it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made therefrom without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View taken through the central portion of the machine embodying the invention and showing the parts in the normal position of rest.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the parts shown in the printing position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the several parts which go to make up the type bar movement.

The type bars, in the illustration, are designated 7 and are shown pivoted at 8 in a supporting segment 9, this segment being suitably mounted in the main frame 10 of the machine.

The .key levers are designated 11 and are shown pivotally supported at 12, these levers being shown yieldingly supported in their upward position by supporting springs 13.

Intermediate levers 14 are provided, theselevers being shown pivotally supported on a pivot rod 15 located below the key levers and extending up alongside the key levers.

The intermediate levers are operated by the key levers through the medium of a cam connection, which takes the form in the pres entdisclosure, of a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam Slot 16 formed in the 26, 1923. Serial No. 682,678.

intermediate lever and receiving a roller 17 projecting from the side of the key lever.

lVith this construction it will be apparent that upon the down stroke of the key lever, the cam roller will engage the lower and forward edge 18 of the cam slot and thereby force the intermediate lever forward. Upon the up stroke of the key lever the cam roller 17 will have a tendency to engage the upper and rearward edge 19 of the cam slot and thereby tend to shift the intermediate lever rearwardly to its normal upright position of rest.

The lower and upper edges of the cam slots thus serve as inclined cam shoulders and they are preferably spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the cam roller so that the cam roller can engage only one shoulder or the other at a given time. As the cam roller has a rolling engagement over the cam shoulders, the friction at this point is very slight.

The connections from the intermediate levers to the type bars are of novel construction, embodying in the preferred form illustrated, pull links 20 pivoted at their forward ends to the upper ends of the intermediate levers at 21, and pivoted at their rearward ends at 22 to the elbow portions of the elbow levers 23, said elbow levers having their rear ward arms 24; pivoted to the type bars at 25 and their forward arms 26 extending forwardly into position to engage the under edges of the type bars. The pivotal support 25 of these dependent elbow levers is usually located to the rear of and somewhat below the pivotal centers 8 of the type bars, and the engagement of the forward arms 26 of said levers with the type bars is preferably made at a point 27 below and forward of the type bar pivots.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows:

Upon depression of a key lever the cam roller carried by that lever engaging the lower cam shoulder 18, swings the intermediate lever in a forward direction. The first part of this forward movement of the intermediate lever is taken up in swinging the elbow lever forwardly to a point where the forward arm 26 of the elbow lever makes starting engagement with the type bar.

As this engagement is effected, the type bar is started on its printing stroke, the leverage being such at this time as t0 give the type bar an easy and at H e same time quick starting impulse. After the type bar has been given this starting impulse, as it moves upward, in about tl e position indicated in 3, it leaves the start-ing arm 26 and thereafter the type bar is carried forward to the full end of its printing stroke by the con ncction made up of the link 20 and the arm 24 of the elbow lever. This provides a firm driving connection for carrying the type bar positively forward to the end of its stroke.

Cooperating stops 28 and 29 may be provided on the link and elbow lever for limiting the straightening movement of said members so as to prevent them swinging past the dead center and this limitation of movement also facilitates the returning of the parts to the normal position of rest.

Means are preferably provided for insuring the quick return of the type bar and operating connections, such means being herein shown in the form of a spring pressed universal bar 30 operatively engaging the forward edges of the upstanding intermediate levers.

The quick return of the parts is also facilitated by the engagement of stops 3i and 29 on the type bar and pull link respectively, and which come into engagement as the type bar reaches the full printing position.

To insure a proper starting engagement between the forward arm of the elbow lever and the type bar, one of these parts may be provided with a laterally bent lug such as that indicated at 33, this providing a sufficient bearing surface to insure a firm driving engagement between such parts.

The machine is provided with a platen of suitable construction mounted in a trans versely movable carriage 35, the movement of such carriage being governed by suitable escapement mechanism such as the escapement rocker 36 cooperating with a rack 3'? on the carriage, and operated by a link 38 irom the type bar actuated universal bar 39.

Suitable ribbon feeding and operating mechanism is also provided, the ribbon 40 in the machine illustrated being shown carried by spools l1 and supported at the central printing point by the guide 42 operated by an arm 4-3 extending forwardly from the es capement rocken From the foregoing itwill be apparent that the machine of my invention is of simple, inexpensive construction, and that the action while light and quick in operation, is strong and capable of performing the heavier manifolding work as well as the-lighter varieties of work.

The machine may be provided with mechanism for shifting the platen to print in the upper case, such mechanism being illustrated in the present disclosure as a shift key lever {t l having a projection -15 engaging a lever 46 pivoted at 4L7 and arranged as lift a track 48 into engagement with a roll 49 on the platen carriage.

What I claim is:

1. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted he 1 lever, a pivoted upstanding interi'nediate lever, a cam connection between said levers whereby upon the down-stroke of the key lever the intermediate lever will be operated in a forward d' ection, a link connected with the upper end of the intermediate lever, a pivoted type bar, and a connection between said link and type bar having both a starting connection and a full-stroke dri ing engagement with the type bar.

2. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted type bar, an elbow lever pivoted at one end to said type bar and having a start gagement at its opposite end i lth t e o bar, and operating means connected with are elbow of said lever.

3. In a key and type action, a pivoted type bar, an elbow lever pivoted one end to said type bar and having a starting engagement at its opposite end with the type bar, a pivoted intermediate l ver operatively connected with the elbow of said lever and key lever operatively connected with said intermediate lever.

t. In a key and type bar action, a pi ted type bar, an elbow lever pivoted at one end to said type bar and having a starting engagement at its opposite end with the type b r, an intermediate lever operatively con-- nected with the elbow of said lever, a pivoted key lever, and an operating cam connection between said key lever and inter mediate lever.

5. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted key lever, a pivoted type bar, and an elbow lever dependent from said type bar having one arm pivotally connected with the type bar and its opposite end extending beneath the type bar, a link pivoted to the elbow of said lever, an intermediate lever pivoted to said link, and a key lever operative to throw the intermediate lever forward whereby to first swing the arm of the elbow lever into starting engagement with the type bar and thereafter to carry the type bar forward for the balance of its printing stroke.

6. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted key lever, a pivoted intermediate lwer, a cam connection between said levers whereby said intermediate lever will be vibrated by the key lever, a pivoted type bar and an cl 30w lever dependent from the type bar ha ing a rearward arm pivoted to the type bar and a forwardly extending arm projecting beneath the type bar, and a pull link connected with the intermediate lever and with the elbow of the elbow lever.

7. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted key lever, a pivoted intermediate lever, cam connection between said levers whereby said intermediate lever will be vibrated by the key lever, a pivoted type bar, an elbow lever dependent from the type bar having a rearward arm pivoted to the type bar and a forwardly extending ar ii projecting beneath the type bar, a pull link connected with the intermediate lever and with the elbow of the elbow lever, and a universal bar acting on the intermedi ate let er.

8. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted key lever, a pivoted intermediate lover, a cam connection between said levers whereby said intermediate lever will be vibrated by the key lever, a pivoted type bar and an elbow lever dependent from the type bar having a rearward arm piv ted to the type bar and a forwardly extending arm projecting beneath the type bar, a pull link connected with the intermediate lever and with the elbow of the elbow lever, and cooperating stop shoulders on the link and elbow lever.

9. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted key lever, a pivoted intermediate lever, a cam connection between said levers whereby said intermediate lever will be vibrated by the key lever, a pivoted type bar, an elbow lever dependent from the type bar having a rearward arm pivoted to the type bar and a forwardly extending arm projecting beneath the type bar, a pull link connected with the intern'iediate lever and with the elbow of the elbow lever, and cooperating stop shoulders on the link and type bar.

10. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted type bar, a dependent lever pivoted to the type bar in rear of the type bar pivot and provided with a forwardly extending arm arranged for engagement with the type bar at a point forward of the pivot thereof, a pull link pivoted to said lever, an upstanding intermediate lever having its upper end connected to the forward end of the pull link, said intermediate lever having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam slot therein, a pivoted key lever, and a roller on said key lever working in the said inclined cam slot.

11. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted type bar, an elbow lever pivoted at one end to said type bar and having a starting engagement at its opposite end with the type bar, and operating means connected with the elbow of said lever, said operating means being adapted for abutment by the type bar when the latter reaches printin position to return said type bar to normal inoperative position.

12. In a key and type bar action, a pivoted type bar, an elbow lever pivoted at one end to said type bar and having a starting engagement at its opposite end with the type bar, operating means connected with the elbow of said lever, and cooperating stop shoulders on said operating means and elbow lever.

In testimony whereof I have atlixed my signature to this specification.

JESSE ALEXANDER. 

